Two Zululanders die in crash

A MAN and woman from KwaCeza died instantly when the minibus taxi in which they were travelling overturned in the Ngoge area outside Newcastle on Sunday evening.

Zamani Mbatha and a neighbour were returning to work in Johannesburg, after spending the Christmas holidays with their beloved families, when the taxi’s rear tyre burst.

The driver lost control and the vehicle veered off the road and overturned three times on a steep road.

According to Nhlanzeko Mthembu, who sustained serious injuries in the accident, the car was somersaulting and passengers were strewn all over the road.

Speaking from from his KwaCeza Hospital bed, Mthembu said all the passengers were thrown out of the minibus and sustained injuries during the accident.

They were taken to Madadeni Hospital.

Some were released later that night and returned to Ulundi.

Mthembu went to KwaCeza Hospital for follow-up treatment and tests.

‘Zamani was the first to be thrown out of the vehicle and the minibus hit him on the head and he died instantly.

One woman from the Mtshali family died in the Madadeni Hospital.

‘I was the last person to be thrown out of the vehicle before it came to a standstill,’ Mthembu said.

Mbatha was staying with his maternal grandmother, Ntombini Buthelezi who could not hold back the tears when she heard the news about her grandson’s death.

Mbatha was the breadwinner in the Buthelezi family and had sent a delegation to the family of his fiancé and mother of his one-year-old son, Minenhle Myeni, to pay lobola cattle as he was preparing to get married soon.

Yesterday morning family members, relatives and neighbours had gathered at the Buthelezi family to pay homage to him.

Zululand District Municipality (ZDM) mayor, Cllr Zanele KaMagwaza-Msibi, sent a ZDM delegation to the affected families to see what the municipality could offer the families.

‘I am concerned about the death of our people on our roads when returning to work after the holidays.

‘Last year seven people from Okhukho, who were returning to work in Johannesburg, died when the minibus taxi they were travelling in had an accident near Balfour near Johannesburg.

‘I appeal to public transport drivers to exercise extra caution as we cannot afford to lose more lives as many people are returning to work after spending their Christmas holidays away. ‘My condolences go to the affected families,’ said KaMagwaza-Msibi.

KaMagwaza Msibi said ZDM has offered to help the affected families to bury their loved ones with dignity.